The governor had until midnight Tuesday to act on the $6.3 billion, two-year spending plan.

In a press release LePage said he could not approve a budget that included tax increases. The plan he vetoed called for a temporary half-percent increase in the sales tax as well as a 1 percent increase in the meals and lodging tax.

LePage also pointed to education cuts as another sticking point. He said more than $18 million was cut from the budget he originally proposed.

LePage left his office on Monday around 4 p.m. and would not talk with reporters about his veto. In a letter to lawmakers, he said, "Now is not the time to ask Mainers to give more to fund government. It is time for us to make hard decisions and make real, structural cuts. There is so much we can do. Our overly generous welfare programs can be reformed, cutting waste, fraud and abuse."

The legislature could vote to override the veto with a two-thirds majority.

Two-thirds of lawmakers approved of the budget to send it to the governor's desk.

Democratic leaders are confident the Republicans who supported that effort will also support a budget override, but that won't be clear until the votes are cast.

"The reality is that we don't even need the veto because we're going to override. I'm pretty confident about that. Our Republican colleagues have assured us they have the votes. It's a responsible budget. We've done our job. It's unfortunate the governor has taken this position," said Sen. Seth Goodall of Richmond.

The legislature is scheduled to return to Augusta on Wednesday to vote.

Members of both parties predict they'll have the votes they need to override the governor's veto.

If there is no state budget by the end of June, Maine faces a government shutdown.

AS PROMISED, GOVERNOR PAUL LEPAGE HAS VETOED THE BUDGET WHICH WAS PASSED BY LAWMAKERS EARLIER THIS MONTH. GOOD EVENING AND THANKS FOR JOINING US. I'M TRACY SABOL. THE GOVERNOR HAD UNTIL TOMORROW TO ACT ON THE áSIX-POINT- THREE-BILLI ONá DOLLAR, TWO-YEAR SPENDING PLAN.. BUT HE MADE HIS VETO áOFFICIALá LATE THIS AFTERNOON. IN OUR PROJECT ECONOMY COVERAGE TONIGHT: W-M-T-W NEWS EIGHT'S PAUL MERRILL JOINS US LIVE NOW WITH MORE. GOVERNOR LEPAGE SAYS HE VETOED THIS BUDGET BECAUSE IT INCLUDES TAX INCREASES AND HE SAYS IT HARMS STUDENTS AND THE ELDERLY. THE GOVERNOR LEFT HIS OFFICE JUST AFTER FOUR O'CLOCK TODAY WITHOUT STOPPING TO ENTERTAIN QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS VETO. IN HIS LETTER TO LAWMAKERS, THE GOVERNOR WRITES THAT, BY NOT FUNDING CERTAIN PROGRAMS, THIS BUDGET REDUCES THE EDUCATIONAL CHOICES STUDENTS HAVE. HE ALSO WRITES THAT THE INCREASES IN THE STATE'S MEALS, LODGING, AND SALES TAXES HURT MAINERS WHO ARE LIVING ON FIXED INCOMES. PART OF HIS LETTER READS, - QUOTE- "Now is not the time to ask Mainers to give more to fund government. It is time for us to make hard decisions and make real, structural cuts. There is so much we can do. Our overly generous welfare programs can be reformed, cutting waste, fraud, and abuse." -END QUOTE- HERE'S WHAT DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING. 21:32:11-21:32:23 Sen. Seth Goodall/ Richmond: "The reality is that we don't even need the veto because we're going to override. I'm pretty confident about that. Our Republican colleagues have assured us they have the votes. It's a responsible budget. We've done our job. It's unfortunate the governor has taken this position." THE LEGISLATURE IS SCHEDULED TO RETURN TO AUGUSTA ON WEDNESDAY FOR THAT VOTE. MEMBERS OF BOTH PARTIES PREDICT THEY'LL HAVE THE VOTES THEY NEED TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO. IF THEY DON'T, THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME SERIOUS TALK ABOUT A STATE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN AT THE END OF JUNE. MAINE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS THE GOVERNOR'S IDEA FOR A CONTINGENCY PLAN IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL. SHE ALSO TOLD US TODAY THAT SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE STATE WORKERS' INSURANCE BENEFITS WILL LAPSE IN THE EVENT OF A TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN.